Downhill Corral continues to evolve

In its fourth year, the Cathlamet Downhill Corral longboard festival continues to become more refined.

Race organizers increased the number and difficulty of events. More racers and fans came to town, and for the most part, everyone seemed to enjoy the competition.

"Cathlamet has become a major stop for downhill racing," said Rob McKendry, III, who announces the races and provides commentary based on 20 some years of skateboarding.

Organizers limited the Sunday Downhill Race to 96 racers, and they enjoyed shooting down the Cathlamet Hill, through the Main Street intersection and then down Broadway to turn onto Commercial Street for the finish.

"It's a challenging course," McKendry said. "It slants the wrong way in the turns, and the manhole will take off your slide glove."

The racers wear used motorcycle racing leathers and helmets with full face protection. They glue plastic discs to leather gloves and slide their hands on the pavement in turns to support their bodies, and they turn the board sideways to brake. However, the early practice rounds were filled with racers crashing into hay bales as they learned what lines to take and not to take.

"It has a funny start that's a little different from other events, and there are people going all over the place," said Canadian Patrick Switzer, who won the Downhill in 2009. "But it has been a lot of fun, and there are a lot of good people here."

Although past Downhill Race winners were present, a new face took to the podium to claim the champion's purse and prizes.

Winner Kyle Martin of Chilliwack, BC, competed last year but didn't make it to the medal round.

"This year, I didn't crash," he said. "I stayed on the board."

Rounding out the top four were 2. Dillon Stephens, 3. Micah Green and 4. Scott Limbach.

The festival started Friday afternoon with a tight slalom; two at a time, racers started down a ramp and weaved two blocks down 3rd Street through cones spaced about 10 feet apart.

"This is a race for older guys," one racer quipped. "They're the only guys who can afford the boards."

Indeed, two 49-year-old racers placed first and second. Brad Jackman edged out longtime rival John Stryker by half a second. Twenty-year old Brandon Tissen of Medford, Ore., placed third.

"These axles," Stryker explained after the race, "are custom machined. The set up of the board is the key to the whole thing."

Tissen, who has done some motocross racing, is just getting into skateboard competition.

"It was a little bit stacked, but hopefully I'll take away something from this," he said.

Indeed. Tissen subsequently placed fourth in the Slide Jam, in which boarders slid down Broadway Street and showed the slides, jumps and other moves they could do with a board. He finished second to Jon Huey in the Sidewalk Showdown, a slalom that goes up and down curbs and ramps. Saturday evening, he finished fourth in the Boardercross, a four-person race that careened back and forth on ramps and ended with a high jump. On Sunday, he advanced through the eliminations but missed the semi finals.

At the end of the awards, organizers announced they had created a new category--best all-around racers. Tisson was first; Paul Kent second, and Robin McGuirk third (an earlier posting incorrectly stated Scott Limbach placed third).

An estimated 400 people watched the Boardercross on Saturday.

"This is the only boardercross that we know of in North America," said Dean Ozuna, who designed the course. "There are a few in Europe, but they're two-man races, not four-man, like we have."

William Royce kept his feet and won the race. Brian Cortwright was second, Jesse Breiman third and Tissen fourth.

Saturday's events started with the Puget Island Push Race. Paul Kent upended three-time champion Robin McGuirk to claim the title; McGuirk finished second, Brandon DeJarles third and David Mitchell fourth.

Racers came from far and wide--Texas, Florida, Ontario, New York.

Adam Yates from Queensland, Australia, competed, finishing fifth in the master's division (over age 30) of the Downhill Race.

He'd been racing in California, and like many other racers, he would head to Calgary, Alberta, for next weekend's races there.

"In 2010, I was on my way here and had a car accident and injured my knee, so I couldn't compete," he said. "I helped Rob with the announcing."

The friendship among the racers, who set up the races and clean up afterwards, is what draws him. On Sunday, he made it to the fourth round eliminations before sliding into the hay bales.

"I enjoyed myself today," he said.

And so did others at the festival.

Other notes: Tad Drysdale, age 56, received a $25 prize from Puget Island residents Howard and Judy Brawn; he donated that to the fund for the Cathlamet Skate Park. One of Martin's prizes was a pastel painting of last year's championship race by Cathlamet artist David Goodroe; Martin presented it to one of the racers in the painting.

To see photos from the event, visit The Eagle's Flickr account here>>><>>>